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P.O. Box 309
Jamestown, NC 27282
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Cline Observatory
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Public Viewing Schedule

The Cline Observatory is open to the public for viewing every clear Friday night.
Sessions usually last about two hours, but may run longer or shorter depending on interest and sky conditions.
For updates regarding how weather or other issues will affect this week's session, check here.

There is no charge for public night viewing and the observatory is open to anyone wishing to attend.
No reservations are necessary, and there are no limits on the number of attendees.
(We do ask that you let us know ahead of time if you plan to bring a large group.)
 
Schedule
Date Featured Object Host
25 June The Moon: Early Morning at the Bay of Rainbows Dennis Hands
2 July Globular Cluster M13 Aaron Martin
9 July Saturn David Connor
16 July Venus Jeff Walters
23 July The Moon - Sunrise at the crater Aristarchus Dennis Hands
30 July Double Star Albireo Angela Broadus
6 August M27 – The Dumbbell Nebula Jeff Swanson
13 August The Double-Double – Multiple Star Epsilon Lyrae David Connor
20 August Many Moons Tim Martin
27 August M57 – The Ring Nebula Angela Broadus
3 September Cat’s Eye Nebula Aaron Martin
10 September Life of a Star Beth Desch
17 September Open Cluster M11 Emily Eddins
24 September Globular Cluster M15 Jeff McCandless
1 October Jupiter
Fall Astronomy Day – Special Lecture by Dr. Giovanni Fazio of the Harvard Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics. Observing begins after the talk. Details TBA
Jeff Walters

Featured objects listed on the calendar are possible highlights for the session, but many interesting objects can be seen throughout the year.

The viewings begin at 7:00 during Standard Time and ½ hour after sunset during Daylight Time. Daylight Time begins the second Sunday of March and ends the first Sunday of November – for the dates in bold in the table below, Daylight Time is in effect. Note: The dates/times in the table are to be used as a sunset guide – they are not the specific dates/times we operate – we’re open every clear Friday.
 
Sunset Times For Selected Dates: Jamestown, NC
Date Sunset Time
15 January 5:29
15 February 6:01
15 March 7:27
15 April 7:53
15 May 8:19
15 June 8:38
15 July 8:37
15 August 8:10
15 September 7:27
15 October 6:44
15 November 5:12
15 December 5:07

Sessions are subject to cancellation without notice due to weather – our telescopes can’t see through the clouds – so please check the condition of the skies before coming to visit.

New Telescope
The observatory recently installed a 16-inch Ritchey-Chrétien reflector (pictured below) on the mount under the dome. Other 8-inch reflectors are set up outside the dome during viewing sessions if attendance warrants.
 
New Telescope
 
 
 
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